Preparing For A Tornado Touchdown

While the most powerful tornados may take several hours or days to take shape, given the right atmospheric conditions, a fairly strong one may still strike in unsuspecting locations. Thus, making it all the more important for everyone to prepare in advance and properly anticipate disasters. Being tornado-ready starts far before the weather turns awry. Taking precautionary steps ahead of time is critical and must be a common practice for residential areas and business centers alike.

Organize a disaster plan

Most households and establishments own an escape plan for hazards like fire and flood, however, tornado often require a completely different approach. For starters, you must be wary of your location and what type of building you are in. Knowing where you are and where you could be in times of an imminent threat will let you act instantaneously. Every minute counts during a tornado, so it’s best to have even a simple escape plan amidst the chaos.

Practice your emergency plan

Practice may not make your plan perfect, but it will surely help you become more confident and self-aware during a disaster. During a tornado, things will definitely go bad, and when it does, it’s best to have every bit of mental edge you can have so you can think on your feet. Spend enough time every now and then to practice your emergency plan, regardless if that’s for your household or other establishments.

For organizations, an emergency plan should include training the employees and adhering to operational standards. Workforce compliance on matters like health and safety, environmental standards, and disaster preparedness should be among the lessons that all personnel must learn during the early part of their tenure.

Have an emergency preparedness kit

An emergency preparedness kit can be organized to answer to many kinds of unexpected situations. Whether you’re located at a tornado hotspot or not, it’s always smart to have some sort of preparedness kit ready that will address your primary needs such as food, communication, cash, clothing, and first aid during an emergency.

Tornado safety at work

Employees must be fully aware of their responsibilities during a tornado attack. Safety procedures must be implemented on time, while other processes at work must be stopped immediately to avoid additional hazards in the workplace. Everyone must also know where to evacuate and must have a means to contact their families during the chaos. Finally, workers should also be aware of what to do if they end up outdoors during a tornado. They should seek shelter in a sturdy building or, if not within walking distance, drive with seat belt on to a safe spot.

Summing up, preparation will still be the most important tool against any natural disaster. For companies, that also means putting additional value on their workforce and environmental compliance. In a time when natural threats are becoming more violent and unpredictable, there’s definitely no shame in taking an extra step or two in preparing for the worst case scenario.

Matt Luman is our EHS Product Marketing Manager at 360Training.com. He is an OSHA-authorized Outreach Trainer for General Industry and Construction. Prior to coming on board with the team, Matt worked for many years in the Oil and Gas Industry, spanning numerous sectors. He’s done everything he could in the industry, from washing trucks to developing EHS management systems. As EHS Product Marketing Manager, he is focused on creating lifelong industry learners.